1913 Auburn Tigers football team
American college football season
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The 1913 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1913 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. The team was coached by Mike Donahue and was undefeated at 8â0, outscoring opponents 224â13. Auburn was the champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The team played just two games at home.[1][2]
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| 1913 Auburn Tigers football | |
|---|---|
| |
National champion (Billingsley MOV) SIAA champion | |
| Conference | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Record | 8â0 (8â0 SIAA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Base defense | 7â2â2 |
| Captain | Kirk Newell |
| Home stadium | Drake Field Rickwood Field |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn $ | 8 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 0 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi A&M | 5 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 3 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 3 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 5 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 4 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU | 1 | â | 1 | â | 2 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 2 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi College | 1 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 1 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Citadel | 0 | â | 3 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 0 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 2 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 0 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 4 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central University | 0 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Richard Billingsley is the only NCAA-recognized "major selector" to select Auburn as 1913 national champion.[3][4] The retroactive selection of the 1913 Tigers first appeared in the 2000 NCAA records book, as the Billingsley Report revised its math system for the BCS computer rankings. In the 1996 NCAA records book, under his primary methodology, he had selected Chicago for 1913.[a][10] Auburn did not claim the title until 2025, but did acknowledge it in its official media guide before then.[11]
Before the season
Since Auburn's tie with Vanderbilt last year, teams other than Vanderbilt had a chance to win a title, and newspapers covered football more than the World Series for the first time.[12]
Coach Donahue built his team around his defense, which played out of a 7â2â2 scheme. The team was led by senior captain Kirk Newell. One source reads "Coach Donahue loved the fullback dive and would run the play over and over again before sending the elusive Newell wide on a sweep."[13]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4 | Mercer | W 53â0 | [14] | ||
| October 11 | Florida |
| W 55â0 | [15] | |
| October 18 | at Clemson |
| W 20â0 | [16] | |
| October 25 | Mississippi A&M | W 34â0 | [17] | ||
| November 1 | vs. LSU |
| W 7â0 | [18] | |
| November 8 | at Georgia Tech | W 20â0 | [19] | ||
| November 15 | Vanderbilt |
| W 14â6 | [20] | |
| November 22 | at Georgia |
| W 21â7 | 12,000 | [21] |
Game summaries
Mercer
A.P.I. began its season with a 53-0 blowout against visiting Mercer on Drake Field.[2]
Florida
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Auburn | 13 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 55 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Drake Field ⢠Auburn, Alabama
- Game weather: Hot
- Referee: John Counselman
- Sources:[22]
The week before, the Florida Gators had the largest win in their history, a 144â0 win over Southern College. Auburn crushed the Gators 55â0. Auburn scored five touchdowns in the first half.[22] Captain Kirk Newell retired in the third period due to the heat.[22]
The starting lineup was Wynne (left end), Esslinger (left tackle), Lockwood (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louisell (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Newell (left halfback), Sparkman (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[22]
Mississippi A&M
The second place Mississippi A&M Aggies fell to Auburn 34â0 after years of close games between the two schools.[23]
Clemson
Clemson was defeated 20â0 with coach Donahue using his fullback.[24]
The starting lineup was Wynne (left end), Esslinger (left tackle), Lockwood (left guard), Pitts (center), Thigpen (right guard), Louisell (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Newell (left halfback), Sparkman (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[24]
LSU
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Mobile, Alabama
- Game start: 2:30 p. m.
- Referee: Innis Brown
Sources:[25]
In a close game of conventional football, Auburn beat the LSU Tigers 7â0, with Tom Dutton standing out at center of defense.[26] Kirk Newell starred with end runs, and in the third quarter brought the ball to the 12-yard line with a 40-yard run.[25] Red Harris eventually made the deciding score.[25]
The starting lineup was Taylor (left end), Louisell (left tackle), Thigpen (left guard), Pitts (center), Lockwood (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Newell (left halfback), Kearley (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[25]
Georgia Tech
Auburn beat Georgia Tech 20â0, Auburn's sixth straight shutout. After the first half, Tech's line was beaten down by Auburn's.[27]
Vanderbilt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Auburn | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Vanderbilt | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Sources:
In "one of the most spectacular games the South ever saw",[28] Auburn beat Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores 14â6. Auburn scored with fullback Hart. Vanderbilt responded quickly with a 30-yard pass from Ammie Sikes to Hord Boensch. Using four different fullbacks on one drive, Auburn drove 80 yards to win.[29]
Georgia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Auburn | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Georgia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: November 22
- Location: Ponce de Leon Park
Atlanta - Game attendance: 12,000
- Referee: Innis Brown
Sources:[30]
The Tigers defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 21â7 to claim the SIAA title. Many prominent persons, including the governor, saw the contest.[31]
Kirk Newell of Auburn and Bob McWhorter of Georgia played their last games. At the 25-yard line, from a freak formation, Georgia's David Paddock pass the ball to Logan who caught it on the run and into the endzone for the first score of the game.[30] Red Harris got over a score in the second period. In the third quarter, Auburn had driven to the 11-yard line, and Donahue pulled Harris for Christopher. The Georgia team expected a buck, and committed to stopping it.[30] Newell skirted around right end for 7 yards. Christopher eventually plunged in from the 4-yard line. Later, from the 35-yard line, Newell had a run to the 7-yard line, chased out of bounds by McWhorter.[30] Christopher again got the touchdown.[30]
The starting lineup was Kearley (left end), Louisell (left tackle), Thigpen (left guard), Pitts (center), Lockwood (right guard), Esslinger (right tackle), Robinson (right end), Arnold (quarterback), Newell (left halfback), Prendergast (right halfback), Harris (fullback).[30]
Postseason
Newell gained 1,707 yards that year, 46% of the team's entire offensive output;[32] and 5,800 yards rushing, 350 yards receiving, and 1,200 yards on punt returns for his career.[33] One writer claims "Auburn had a lot of great football teams, but there may not have been one greater than the 1913â1914 team."[2] Newell went on to be a World War I hero and member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.[34]
Roster
Starters
Line
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. S. Esslinger | Tackle | 4 | |||||
| Bull Kearley | End | 2 | Franklin, Alabama | 180 | 22 | ||
| Tubby Lockwood | Guard | 4 | Montgomery, Alabama | 220 | 23 | ||
| Lou Louisell | Tackle | 4 | 18 | ||||
| Boozer Pitts | Center | 4 | Pittsview, Alabama | 190 | 19 | ||
| Robbie Robinson | End | 4 | 170 | ||||
| Baby Taylor | End | 1 | Birmingham, Alabama | 6'2" | 194 | 21 | |
| Big Thigpen | Guard | 4 | 200 | ||||
| Jack Wynne | End | 2 |
Backfield
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Arnold | Quarterback | 4 | 156 | ||||
| Red Harris | Fullback | 4 | 148 | ||||
| Kirk Newell | Halfback | 4 | Dadeville, Alabama | 150 | 22 | ||
| Homer Prendergast | Halfback | 1 | |||||
| S. S. Sparkman | Halfback | 3 |
Subs
| Player | Position | Games started |
Hometown | Prep school | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. C. Adkins | Halfback | ||||||
| Bedie Bidez | Fullback | ||||||
| Chris Christopher | Fullback | ||||||
| Cleveland | Halfback | ||||||
| C. W. Culpepper | Tackle | ||||||
| Roland Fricks | Guard | ||||||
| Lucy Hairston | End/back | Crawford, Mississippi | |||||
| Frank Hart | Fullback | Eufaula, Alabama | 19 | ||||
| C. B. Martin | Tackle | ||||||
| C. S. Noble | Quarterback | ||||||
| George Steed | Tackle | ||||||
Staff
- Mike Donahue, coach
- George Penton, assistant
- Ed Bragg, alumni coach
- Jonathan Bell Lovelace, manager
- Thomas Bragg, graduate manager
- Dean Cliff Hare, faculty chairman of athletics
Notes
- Billingsley Report selections first appeared in the 1995[5] edition of the NCAA records book, listing champions since 1960. In the 1996[6] book these champions were joined with retrospective selections all the way back to 1869. This original set of champions was last printed in the 1999[7] NCAA records book. In 1998 Billingsley adjusted his formula in order to participate as a computer poll in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. He re-ranked all past seasons with this new formula; these new champions were printed in the 2000[8]â2003[9] NCAA records books. It was in this set of selections that the 1913 Auburn Tigers first appeared.
